LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Francis Ford Coppola, the renowned director behind classics like the “Godfather” trilogy and “Apocalypse Now,” faced a major setback with his latest film, “Megalopolis.” Despite pouring $120 million of his own money into the project, the film is projected to bring in a disappointing $4 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada over its opening weekend. This marks a significant flop for the 85-year-old director, who has been working on the film for decades.
Coppola’s passion project, a 2 hour and 18 minute epic that reimagines Roman history in a satirical science fiction setting, has been met with mixed reviews. While some critics have praised its ambition and scope, others have criticized it as a confusing mess. Despite a strong cast that includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aubrey Plaza, audience reactions to the film have been overwhelmingly negative, with a “D+” rating from CinemaScore.
The financial risk for “Megalopolis” falls solely on Coppola, who financed the production budget, marketing, and distribution costs himself after selling off a portion of his wine business to make the film a reality. Lionsgate, which is distributing the movie, faced backlash for a promotional trailer that featured fake quotes from critics doubting Coppola’s previous work. The studio later issued an apology and removed the trailer from circulation.
In contrast to “Megalopolis,” Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” had a successful opening weekend, raking in a projected $35 million in domestic ticket sales. Based on a popular children’s book, the animated movie has garnered critical acclaim and strong word-of-mouth, earning an “A” CinemaScore and 98% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite the challenges faced by “Megalopolis,” Lionsgate expressed support for Coppola and the film. Adam Fogelson, the chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, praised Coppola as one of the world’s greatest filmmakers and emphasized the studio’s commitment to giving “Megalopolis” a wide theatrical release. As the film industry continues to evolve, only time will tell how “Megalopolis” will be received by audiences in the long run.